Robert Atkins (physician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Atkins
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| Born |
Robert Coleman Atkins
October 17, 1930 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | April 17, 2003 (aged 72) New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Michigan Cornell University |
| Occupation | Cardiologist |
| Years active | 1959–2003 |
| Organization | Atkins Nutritionals |
| Known for | Atkins diet |
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Notable work
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Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution (1972) Dr. Atkins' Superenergy Diet (1977) Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution (1999) |
| Spouse(s) |
Veronica Atkins
(m. 1986) |
Robert Coleman Atkins (October 17, 1930 – April 17, 2003) was an American physician. He was a heart doctor, also known as a cardiologist. He is most famous for creating the Atkins Diet. This diet plan asks people to carefully control how many carbohydrates they eat. It suggests eating more protein and fat instead, along with some vegetables.
The Atkins Diet became very popular. Because of its success, Time magazine even called Dr. Atkins a person of the year in 2002. Many people have called the Atkins diet one of the most popular diet trends in the United States.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Atkins was born in 1930 in Columbus, Ohio. His parents were Eugene and Norma Atkins. When he was 12, his family moved to Dayton, Ohio. His father owned several restaurants there.
As a teenager, Robert had many different jobs. He sold shoes at age 14. He also worked on a local radio show. He went to Fairview High School in Dayton. In 1947, he did very well on a scholarship test for students in Ohio.
After high school, he went to the University of Michigan. He graduated in 1951. For a short time, he thought about becoming a comedian. He spent a summer working as an entertainer at resorts.
However, he decided to study medicine instead. He earned his medical degree in 1955. This was from Cornell University Medical College. He then trained at Strong Memorial Hospital in New York. He also completed his training in heart medicine at hospitals linked to Columbia University.
Career as a Doctor
Dr. Atkins became a specialist in heart health. He also studied complementary medicine. In 1959, he opened his own medical office. It was in New York City.
At first, his practice was not very busy. He started to gain weight and felt sad. He began to research different ways to eat. He found an idea about eating fewer carbohydrates. This idea came from research by Alfred W. Pennington.
Dr. Atkins started using this low-carb approach with his patients. He then began writing books about these diets. These became known as the Atkins diet. His first book came out in 1972. A few years later, he opened a center for complementary medicine. He married his wife, Veronica, when he was 56 years old.
Later Life and Passing
In 2002, Dr. Atkins had a serious heart problem. This led some people to say his diet was dangerous. They thought it was because of the higher fat intake. However, Dr. Atkins said his heart problem was not from his diet. He said it was caused by a long-term infection.
On April 7, 2003, Dr. Atkins fell on an icy sidewalk in New York. He hit his head. He was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center. Doctors performed surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. Sadly, he fell into a coma. He passed away on April 17, 2003, at age 72.
After his death, there was some discussion about his health. His wife said he had some heart health issues in his later years. A report from the medical examiner's office was shared. It said Dr. Atkins had a history of some heart problems. However, a group of doctors who worked with the Atkins organization disagreed. They said he had a heart muscle disease. They believed it was caused by a virus, not his diet.
The Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet is a low-carbohydrate diet. Dr. Atkins created and promoted it.
His success led other people to create their own low-carb diets. Many companies also started making low-carb foods. After Dr. Atkins passed away, his diet became less popular. Other low-carb diets appeared. People also started asking more questions about how safe it was.
In 2005, the company Atkins Nutritionals faced financial difficulties. It was later bought by new owners. The company then focused on making low-carb snacks.
Books by Robert Atkins
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution Bantam, 1972
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' Diet Cookbook Bantam, 1974
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' SuperEnergy Diet Bantam, 1978
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' SuperEnergy Diet Cookbook Signet, 1978
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' Nutrition Breakthrough Bantam, 1981
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' Health Revolution Houghton Mifflin, 1988
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution M. Evans and Company, 1992
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' Quick & Easy New Diet Cookbook Simon and Schuster, 1997
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' Vita-Nutrient Solution: Nature's Answers to Drugs Simon and Schuster, 1997
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' Age-Defying Diet St. Martin's Press, 2001, 2002
- Atkins, Robert C. Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution M. Evans and Company, 2002
